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I recently finished re - reading Bernard Cornwall's brutal telling of the Arthurian legends, the The Warlord Chronicles. I had been thinking about submitting a review anyway, and seeing the recent review of the 4th edition of Pendragon was the push I needed. Be forewarned,this is not your father's Arthurian cycle.

The Warlord Chronicles is a 3 volume telling of the Arthur story narrated by a new character, Arthur's friend and captian Derfel. Derfel, as a youth, becomes a spearman in Arthur's warband and is present for all the triumphs and failures of Arthur's career.

Book 1, Winter's King begins with the birth of Mordred, only in this telling Mordred is born to Uther, not Arthur. When the baby Mordred's claim to the High Kingship of Britian is threatened, Uther summons his bastard son Arthur from exile to protect Mordred and his kingship. This sets the theme that drives all 3 books. Arthur is oath - sworn to protect the kingship of lesser men, first Uther's, and then Mordred's. He must protect the boy king from threats interntal (other British claimants to the throne) and external (the ever - present Saxons).

The Arthurian legends are interpreted here to give them new life and richness. Lancelot becomes a vain, cowardly, glory - seeking king who betrays Arthur in every way possible. Guinevere is an intelligent, ambitious woman whose competency is shackled by her sex. Morgaine and Nimue are at first rivals in assisting Merlin and Arthur, and who later become Arthur's enemies, although they remain divided by religion after Morgaine becomes a Christian. Merlin himself is the most powerful of Druids, whose obsession with the return of the gods ultimately provokes his downfall.

The struggle between the new religion of Christanity and the old Celtic religion is the other major theme of The Warlord Chronicles. Pagan and Christian alike resort to the utmost savagery and activity of low ethical standing to win influence, converts, and ultimately to have their religion as the only one. Religous fanaticism gets a bad name in The Warlord Chronicles.

And the battles! There is some of the glory of the calvary charge, but most of the combat in The Warlord Chronicles is the medeival equivalent of the trench warfare of World War I, shield wall meeting shield wall. It is a bloody, bloody business, and the fate of the loser is one at which to tremble. This is Middle Ages as it really was, when a quick death (if one must die) is to be prayed for.

Role - Playing Usage

The Warlord Chronicles would be helpful reading to anyone running an Arthurian campaign or any game that is medieval in nature. Fresh insights into the personalities and motives of the major characters of the Arthur stories can be gained and used to give new twists to familar plots. This story cycle provides a helpful understanding of the religion of the Celts and the conflict of this religion with Christanity. The harsh but eloquent descriptions of a medieval battlefield will be useful in understanding the complexities of a large - scale battle and in describing such a battle. These battles had their own ritual and structure that can add role - playing opportunities in the midst of a large confrontation. The Warlord Chronicles will be rich material for anyone looking for inspiration for their Arthurian or medieval game.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

The Warlord Chronicles - Winter's King, Enemy of God, Excalibur
Author: Bernard Cornwell Category: book Company/Publisher: na Line: na Cost: around $25 (average cost of a US hardback) Page count: average 350 SKU: na Capsule Review by Keith Burkhead on 08/18/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Historical	I recently finished re - reading Bernard Cornwall's brutal telling of the Arthurian legends, the The Warlord Chronicles. I had been thinking about submitting a review anyway, and seeing the recent review of the 4th edition of Pendragon was the push I needed. Be forewarned,this is not your father's Arthurian cycle. The Warlord Chronicles is a 3 volume telling of the Arthur story narrated by a new character, Arthur's friend and captian Derfel. Derfel, as a youth, becomes a spearman in Arthur's warband and is present for all the triumphs and failures of Arthur's career. Book 1, Winter's King begins with the birth of Mordred, only in this telling Mordred is born to Uther, not Arthur. When the baby Mordred's claim to the High Kingship of Britian is threatened, Uther summons his bastard son Arthur from exile to protect Mordred and his kingship. This sets the theme that drives all 3 books. Arthur is oath - sworn to protect the kingship of lesser men, first Uther's, and then Mordred's. He must protect the boy king from threats interntal (other British claimants to the throne) and external (the ever - present Saxons). The Arthurian legends are interpreted here to give them new life and richness. Lancelot becomes a vain, cowardly, glory - seeking king who betrays Arthur in every way possible. Guinevere is an intelligent, ambitious woman whose competency is shackled by her sex. Morgaine and Nimue are at first rivals in assisting Merlin and Arthur, and who later become Arthur's enemies, although they remain divided by religion after Morgaine becomes a Christian. Merlin himself is the most powerful of Druids, whose obsession with the return of the gods ultimately provokes his downfall. The struggle between the new religion of Christanity and the old Celtic religion is the other major theme of The Warlord Chronicles. Pagan and Christian alike resort to the utmost savagery and activity of low ethical standing to win influence, converts, and ultimately to have their religion as the only one. Religous fanaticism gets a bad name in The Warlord Chronicles. And the battles! There is some of the glory of the calvary charge, but most of the combat in The Warlord Chronicles is the medeival equivalent of the trench warfare of World War I, shield wall meeting shield wall. It is a bloody, bloody business, and the fate of the loser is one at which to tremble. This is Middle Ages as it really was, when a quick death (if one must die) is to be prayed for. Role - Playing Usage The Warlord Chronicles would be helpful reading to anyone running an Arthurian campaign or any game that is medieval in nature. Fresh insights into the personalities and motives of the major characters of the Arthur stories can be gained and used to give new twists to familar plots. This story cycle provides a helpful understanding of the religion of the Celts and the conflict of this religion with Christanity. The harsh but eloquent descriptions of a medieval battlefield will be useful in understanding the complexities of a large - scale battle and in describing such a battle. These battles had their own ritual and structure that can add role - playing opportunities in the midst of a large confrontation. The Warlord Chronicles will be rich material for anyone looking for inspiration for their Arthurian or medieval game. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

The Warlord Chronicles - Winter's King, Enemy of God, Excalibur